Families were entertained by re-enactments by Hearts of Oak, who showed what life as a pirate would be like, while the king’s executioner was also on hand to tell tales of crime, punishment, torture and execution.

Plucky youngsters were recruited to join the cause at a pirate school, where they learnt to walk and talk like a pirate, while the Port Sunlight Sea Dogs took a break from smuggling and pirating to entertain crowds with shanties and songs of the sea.

The celebrations also included a pirate party on Friday at the Blue Bell.